scholarly journals Wnt/β-catenin signalling in ovarian cancer: Insights into its hyperactivation and function in tumorigenesis

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vu Hong Loan Nguyen ◽  
Rebecca Hough ◽  
Stefanie Bernaudo ◽  
Chun Peng
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Cancer ◽  
Transcriptional Activity ◽  
Target Gene ◽  
Self Renewal ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Wnt Ligands ◽  
Non Coding Rnas ◽  
Strong Candidate ◽  
And Function ◽  
Intracellular Mediators

AbstractEpithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the deadliest female malignancy. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway plays critical roles in regulating embryonic development and physiological processes. This pathway is tightly regulated to ensure its proper activity. In the absence of Wnt ligands, β-catenin is degraded by a destruction complex. When the pathway is stimulated by a Wnt ligand, β-catenin dissociates from the destruction complex and translocates into the nucleus where it interacts with TCF/LEF transcription factors to regulate target gene expression. Aberrant activation of this pathway, which leads to the hyperactivity of β-catenin, has been reported in ovarian cancer. Specifically, mutations of CTNNB1, AXIN, or APC, have been observed in the endometrioid and mucinous subtypes of EOC. In addition, upregulation of the ligands, abnormal activation of the receptors or intracellular mediators, disruption of the β-catenin destruction complex, inhibition of the association of β-catenin/E-cadherin on the cell membrane, and aberrant promotion of the β-catenin/TCF transcriptional activity, have all been reported in EOC, especially in the high grade serous subtype. Furthermore, several non-coding RNAs have been shown to regulate EOC development, in part, through the modulation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway has been reported to promote cancer stem cell self-renewal, metastasis, and chemoresistance in all subtypes of EOC. Emerging evidence also suggests that the pathway induces ovarian tumor angiogenesis and immune evasion. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that the Wnt/β-catenin pathway plays critical roles in EOC development and is a strong candidate for the development of targeted therapies.

scholarly journals LncRNA GAS5 Suppresses Ovarian Cancer Progression by Targeting miR-96-5p/PTEN Axis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Dong ◽  
Xiaoran Long ◽  
Jie Cheng ◽  
Xia Yin ◽  
Wenjing Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Cancer ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Target Gene ◽  
Growth Arrest ◽  
Mtor Signaling Pathway ◽  
Downstream Target ◽  
Specific Transcript ◽  
Downstream Target Gene ◽  
Non Coding Rnas ◽  
Proliferation And Invasion

Abstract Background Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) play critical roles in tumor occurrence and progression, including ovarian cancer (OC). The lncRNA growth arrest-specific transcript 5 (GAS5) has been proved to be an important modulator in the growth and metastasis of OC cells. Our studies confirm that GAS5 is down-regulated in OC; however, the potential molecular mechanism underlying it remains to be elucidated. Results In our study, we demonstrated that the expression levels of GAS5 and PTEN decreased, while miR-96-5p was up-regulated in ovarian cancer samples and cell lines compared with controls. PTEN is the downstream target gene of miR-96-5p. The up-regulation of GAS5 inhibited the expression of miR-96-5p, which directly targets PTEN. GAS5 overexpression can significantly reduce OC cell proliferation and invasion ability via suppression of miR-96-5p expression. PTEN/AKT/mTOR expression had a positive correlation with GAS5 expression. Moreover, miR-96-5p promoted OC progression by mediating PTEN/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Conclusion Our study identified GAS5 as a ceRNA which regulates the PTEN/AKT/mTOR axis through sponging miR-96-5p in OC.

scholarly journals Sophisticated Gene Regulation for a Complex Physiological System: The Role of Non-coding RNAs in Photoreceptor Cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrina Carrella ◽  
Sandro Banfi ◽  
Marianthi Karali
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Developmental Process ◽  
Photoreceptor Cells ◽  
Sensory Transduction ◽  
Circular Rnas ◽  
Therapeutic Implications ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Non Coding Rnas ◽  
And Function

Photoreceptors (PRs) are specialized neuroepithelial cells of the retina responsible for sensory transduction of light stimuli. In the highly structured vertebrate retina, PRs have a highly polarized modular structure to accommodate the demanding processes of phototransduction and the visual cycle. Because of their function, PRs are exposed to continuous cellular stress. PRs are therefore under pressure to maintain their function in defiance of constant environmental perturbation, besides being part of a highly sophisticated developmental process. All this translates into the need for tightly regulated and responsive molecular mechanisms that can reinforce transcriptional programs. It is commonly accepted that regulatory non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), and in particular microRNAs (miRNAs), are not only involved but indeed central in conferring robustness and accuracy to developmental and physiological processes. Here we integrate recent findings on the role of regulatory ncRNAs (e.g., miRNAs, lncRNAs, circular RNAs, and antisense RNAs), and of their contribution to PR pathophysiology. We also outline the therapeutic implications of translational studies that harness ncRNAs to prevent PR degeneration and promote their survival and function.

scholarly journals Deciphering the Long Non-Coding RNAs and MicroRNAs Coregulation Networks in Ovarian Cancer Development: An Overview

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1407
Author(s):  
César López-Camarillo ◽  
Erika Ruíz-García ◽  
Yarely M. Salinas-Vera ◽  
Macrina B. Silva-Cázares ◽  
Olga N. Hernández-de la Cruz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Cancer ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Therapy Resistance ◽  
Genetic Alterations ◽  
Cellular Functions ◽  
Endocrine Disease ◽  
New Class ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Non Coding Rnas ◽  
Almost All

Non-coding RNAs are emergent elements from the genome, which do not encode for proteins but have relevant cellular functions impacting almost all the physiological processes occurring in eukaryotic cells. In particular, microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a new class of small RNAs transcribed from the genome, which modulate the expression of specific genes at transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels, thus adding a new regulatory layer in the flux of genetic information. In cancer cells, the miRNAs and lncRNAs interactions with its target genes and functional pathways are deregulated as a consequence of epigenetic and genetic alterations occurring during tumorigenesis. In this review, we summarize the actual knowledge on the interplay of lncRNAs with its cognate miRNAs and mRNAs pairs, which interact in coregulatory networks with a particular emphasis on the mechanisms underlying its oncogenic behavior in ovarian cancer. Specifically, we reviewed here the evidences unraveling the relevant roles of lncRNAs/miRNAs pairs in altered regulation of cell migration, angiogenesis, therapy resistance, and Warburg effect. Finally, we also discussed its potential clinical implications in ovarian cancer and related endocrine disease therapies.

Matrix Metalloproteinases in Invertebrates

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (11) ◽  
pp. 1068-1081
Author(s):  
Xi Liu ◽  
Dongwu Liu ◽  
Yangyang Shen ◽  
Mujie Huang ◽  
Lili Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Matrix Metalloproteinases ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Theoretical Basis ◽  
Regulatory Mechanism ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Catalytic Domains ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Disease Occurrence ◽  
Complex Functions ◽  
And Function

Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) belong to a family of metal-dependent endopeptidases which contain a series of conserved pro-peptide domains and catalytic domains. MMPs have been widely found in plants, animals, and microorganisms. MMPs are involved in regulating numerous physiological processes, pathological processes, and immune responses. In addition, MMPs play a key role in disease occurrence, including tumors, cardiovascular diseases, and other diseases. Compared with invertebrate MMPs, vertebrate MMPs have diverse subtypes and complex functions. Therefore, it is difficult to study the function of MMPs in vertebrates. However, it is relatively easy to study invertebrate MMPs because there are fewer subtypes of MMPs in invertebrates. In the present review, the structure and function of MMPs in invertebrates were summarized, which will provide a theoretical basis for investigating the regulatory mechanism of MMPs in invertebrates.

Focal Adhesion Kinase in Ovarian Cancer: A Potential Therapeutic Target for Platinum and Taxane-Resistant Tumors

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 179-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arkene Levy ◽  
Khalid Alhazzani ◽  
Priya Dondapati ◽  
Ali Alaseem ◽  
Khadijah Cheema ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Cancer ◽  
Focal Adhesion Kinase ◽  
Focal Adhesion ◽  
Tumor Stage ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Potential Therapeutic Target ◽  
Resistant Disease ◽  
Development Of Resistance ◽  
And Function ◽  
Mdr 1

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase, which is an essential player in regulating cell migration, invasion, adhesion, proliferation, and survival. Its overexpression and activation have been identified in sixty-eight percent of epithelial ovarian cancer patients and this is significantly associated with higher tumor stage, metastasis, and shorter overall survival of these patients. Most recently, a new role has emerged for FAK in promoting resistance to taxane and platinum-based therapy in ovarian and other cancers. The development of resistance is a complex network of molecular processes that make the identification of a targetable biomarker in platinum and taxane-resistant ovarian cancer a major challenge. FAK overexpression upregulates ALDH and XIAP activity in platinum-resistant and increases CD44, YB1, and MDR-1 activity in taxaneresistant tumors. FAK is therefore now emerging as a prognostically significant candidate in this regard, with mounting evidence from recent successes in preclinical and clinical trials using small molecule FAK inhibitors. This review will summarize the significance and function of FAK in ovarian cancer, and its emerging role in chemotherapeutic resistance. We will discuss the current status of FAK inhibitors in ovarian cancers, their therapeutic competencies and limitations, and further propose that the combination of FAK inhibitors with platinum and taxane-based therapies could be an efficacious approach in chemotherapeutic resistant disease.

scholarly journals Emerging Data on the Diversity of Molecular Mechanisms Involving C/D snoRNAs

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 30
Author(s):  
Laeya Baldini ◽  
Bruno Charpentier ◽  
Stéphane Labialle
Keyword(s):  
Ribosomal Rna ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Molecular Level ◽  
Accurate Description ◽  
Small Nucleolar Rnas ◽  
Age Of Maturity ◽  
Non Coding Rnas ◽  
And Function ◽  
Nucleolar Rnas

Box C/D small nucleolar RNAs (C/D snoRNAs) represent an ancient family of small non-coding RNAs that are classically viewed as housekeeping guides for the 2′-O-methylation of ribosomal RNA in Archaea and Eukaryotes. However, an extensive set of studies now argues that they are involved in mechanisms that go well beyond this function. Here, we present these pieces of evidence in light of the current comprehension of the molecular mechanisms that control C/D snoRNA expression and function. From this inventory emerges that an accurate description of these activities at a molecular level is required to let the snoRNA field enter in a second age of maturity.

scholarly journals Transcriptome analysis reveals potential function of long non-coding RNAs in 20-hydroxyecdysone regulated autophagy in Bombyx mori

BMC Genomics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Huili Qiao ◽  
Jingya Wang ◽  
Yuanzhuo Wang ◽  
Juanjuan Yang ◽  
Bofan Wei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bombyx Mori ◽  
Target Gene ◽  
Fat Body ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Differentially Expressed ◽  
Post Injection ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Potential Target ◽  
Non Coding Rnas

Abstract Background 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) plays important roles in insect molting and metamorphosis. 20E-induced autophagy has been detected during the larval–pupal transition in different insects. In Bombyx mori, autophagy is induced by 20E in the larval fat body. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) function in various biological processes in many organisms, including insects. Many lncRNAs have been reported to be potential for autophagy occurrence in mammals, but it has not been investigated in insects. Results RNA libraries from the fat body of B. mori dissected at 2 and 6 h post-injection with 20E were constructed and sequenced, and comprehensive analysis of lncRNAs and mRNAs was performed. A total of 1035 lncRNAs were identified, including 905 lincRNAs and 130 antisense lncRNAs. Compared with mRNAs, lncRNAs had longer transcript length and fewer exons. 132 lncRNAs were found differentially expressed at 2 h post injection, compared with 64 lncRNAs at 6 h post injection. Thirty differentially expressed lncRNAs were common at 2 and 6 h post-injection, and were hypothesized to be associated with the 20E response. Target gene analysis predicted 6493 lncRNA-mRNA cis pairs and 42,797 lncRNA-mRNA trans pairs. The expression profiles of LNC_000560 were highly consistent with its potential target genes, Atg4B, and RNAi of LNC_000560 significantly decreased the expression of LNC_000560 and Atg4B. These results indicated that LNC_000560 was potentially involved in the 20E-induced autophagy of the fat body by regulating Atg4B. Conclusions This study provides the genome-wide identification and functional characterization of lncRNAs associated with 20E-induced autophagy in the fat body of B. mori. LNC_000560 and its potential target gene were identified to be related to 20-regulated autophagy in B. mori. These results will be helpful for further studying the regulatory mechanisms of lncRNAs in autophagy and other biological processes in this insect model.

scholarly journals Advances in the role of miRNAs in the occurrence and development of osteosarcoma

Open Medicine ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 1003-1011
Author(s):  
Guanyu Zhang ◽  
Yiran Li ◽  
Jiasheng Xu ◽  
Zhenfang Xiong
Keyword(s):  
Target Gene ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Research Direction ◽  
Research Progress ◽  
Skeletal System ◽  
Translation Process ◽  
Non Coding Rnas ◽  
New Research ◽  
Post Transcriptional Regulation

AbstractOsteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant tumor of the skeletal system in the clinic. It mainly occurs in adolescent patients and the pathogenesis of the disease is very complicated. The distant metastasis may occur in the early stage, and the prognosis is poor. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs of about 18–25 nt in length that are involved in post-transcriptional regulation of genes. miRNAs can regulate target gene expression by promoting the degradation of target mRNAs or inhibiting the translation process, thereby the proliferation of OS cells can be inhibited and the apoptosis can be promoted; in this way, miRNAs can affect the metabolism of OS cells and can also participate in the occurrence, invasion, metastasis, and recurrence of OS. Some miRNAs have already been found to be closely related to the prognosis of patients with OS. Unlike other reviews, this review summarizes the miRNA molecules closely related to the development, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of OS in recent years. The expression and influence of miRNA molecule on OS were discussed in detail, and the related research progress was summarized to provide a new research direction for early diagnosis and treatment of OS.

scholarly journals Non-Coding RNAs as Biomarkers of Tumor Progression and Metastatic Spread in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1839
Author(s):  
Karolina Seborova ◽  
Radka Vaclavikova ◽  
Lukas Rob ◽  
Pavel Soucek ◽  
Pavel Vodicka
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Cancer ◽  
Tumor Progression ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Gene Expression Profiles ◽  
Distant Metastases ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Metastatic Spread ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Primary Tumors ◽  
Non Coding Rnas

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common causes of death among gynecological malignancies. Molecular changes occurring in the primary tumor lead to metastatic spread into the peritoneum and the formation of distant metastases. Identification of these changes helps to reveal the nature of metastases development and decipher early biomarkers of prognosis and disease progression. Comparing differences in gene expression profiles between primary tumors and metastases, together with disclosing their epigenetic regulation, provides interesting associations with progression and metastasizing. Regulatory elements from the non-coding RNA families such as microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs seem to participate in these processes and represent potential molecular biomarkers of patient prognosis. Progress in therapy individualization and its proper targeting also rely upon a better understanding of interactions among the above-listed factors. This review aims to summarize currently available findings of microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs linked with tumor progression and metastatic process in ovarian cancer. These biomolecules provide promising tools for monitoring the patient’s response to treatment, and further they serve as potential therapeutic targets of this deadly disease.

scholarly journals The AML-associated K313 mutation enhances C/EBPα activity by leading to C/EBPα overexpression

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Edward Gentle ◽  
Isabel Moelter ◽  
Mohamed Tarek Badr ◽  
Konstanze Döhner ◽  
Michael Lübbert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Cell Culture ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Transcriptional Activity ◽  
Target Gene ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Elevated Expression ◽  
Factor C ◽  
Acute Myeloid

AbstractMutations in the transcription factor C/EBPα are found in ~10% of all acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) cases but the contribution of these mutations to leukemogenesis is incompletely understood. We here use a mouse model of granulocyte progenitors expressing conditionally active HoxB8 to assess the cell biological and molecular activity of C/EBPα-mutations associated with human AML. Both N-terminal truncation and C-terminal AML-associated mutations of C/EBPα substantially altered differentiation of progenitors into mature neutrophils in cell culture. Closer analysis of the C/EBPα-K313-duplication showed expansion and prolonged survival of mutant C/EBPα-expressing granulocytes following adoptive transfer into mice. C/EBPα-protein containing the K313-mutation further showed strongly enhanced transcriptional activity compared with the wild-type protein at certain promoters. Analysis of differentially regulated genes in cells overexpressing C/EBPα-K313 indicates a strong correlation with genes regulated by C/EBPα. Analysis of transcription factor enrichment in the differentially regulated genes indicated a strong reliance of SPI1/PU.1, suggesting that despite reduced DNA binding, C/EBPα-K313 is active in regulating target gene expression and acts largely through a network of other transcription factors. Strikingly, the K313 mutation caused strongly elevated expression of C/EBPα-protein, which could also be seen in primary K313 mutated AML blasts, explaining the enhanced C/EBPα activity in K313-expressing cells.

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